Page 26 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
“I do admire you,” Aaron replied as breeze buffered his hair. “Your mind is one for the history books. Can I tell you how many of my peers are insulted by your intelligence?”
“I do suspect but I’d rather not know,” she replied before nibbling on the bun.
“Good choice,” Aaron confirmed. “The number is astronomically high.”
While she looked at the frolicking birds, Aaron’s eyes traced the soft curve of her cheek and noted the slight indent of a dimple.Would I be able to see the dimple if she smiled?
“This is the first civil conversation we have ever had,” Lady Eleanor said, “I am horrified.”
“That we can be civil? Why Lady Eleanor, I am insulted,” Aaron’s repartee was laced with mock indignation. “Am I that repugnant to you?”
Her smile this time was serene, “I accept your apologies, Your Grace…even for the one you cannot answer for yet.”
She means the dance card but still, Aaron had not expected such a gracious pardon. “Will you accept it when I can explain?”
“More than likely,” Lady Eleanor said as she peered over his shoulder. “Who is that with Lady Darcy?”
Spinning on his perch Aaron spotted the unruly fringe of Julius as he led his fiancé over them, while Miss Malcolm was not too far behind. When had Julius arrived?
The love the engaged two shared was evident to all around them and Aaron shot a look to Lady Eleanor. Her face had gone still.
“Ah,” Lady Darcy said. “We have found you at last. My love, you already know His Grace, but may I introduce Lady Eleanor of Brisdane, my newest friend.”
Aaron leveled a warning eye to Julius, but it was ignored because they both knew that Julius could keep his mouth when he needed to.
“Lady Eleanor of Brisdane,” Julius bowed. “I am pleased to meet you.”
“And I, you,” Eleanor replied while standing. “But why do I suspect the words‘at last’were left out of your greeting?”
Julius looked Aaron squarely with a risen eyebrow that was silently saying,by God, she is as brilliant as you said.
“But that would imply a prior conversation about you, would it not?” Julius added.
Lady Eleanor’s lips parted to reveal a pearly smile, “Mr. Wilcox, please stop buttering me. His Grace and I have not been on the best of terms lately, but I would not send him to the gallows for complaining about me.”
“You’re right, he had,” Julius admitted.
“Ahem,” Lady Darcy cut in. “Eleanor, Miss Malcolm, have you seen the bears yet?’”
Not even waiting for her answer, Lady Darcy looped her arm with Lady Eleanor’s and tugged her away. Aaron was about to say something when Julius cut in brazenly, “I do not care whatever black magic you have to work, Oberton find a way to get her to be yours. For God’s sake, the woman—”
“Lady,” Aaron cut in.
“My apologies,” Julius amended. “The lady is beautiful and smart as a whip. She could see through me like I was a crystal ball. She can match you blow for blow. She’s perfect for you, my good man.”
Tuning to see the two ladies not too far away, Aaron had to admit Julius was right. But would Lady Eleanor see it too?
“And your fiancée is cunning as they come, but speaking of Lady Eleanor, it will be a long and hard road,” Aaron added. “Just before you came, she asked me for a truce.”
Julius eyebrows danced up, “Was your territory at war with hers?”
“On the mental battlefield, yes,” Aaron replied as they set off to follow the ladies.
“Then as an expert on warfare tactics,” Julius offered. “I will tell you to mimic Napoleon. He was a specialist when it came to besieging closed off territories. He conquered by using the weak spots. Find one of hers and use that.”
Aaron was amused, “You do know that Napoleon left his weak spot open to lure the enemy in for capture, right?”
“You will pursue her then?”
